What a pleasure THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER by David Abbott is to read! The publisher compares this to books by Ian McEwan, which I love, but I doubted this book could be that good before I read it. I can tell you, though: yes, Abbott’s style is similar to McEwan’s. And THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER is even better. Honest.

THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER begins with a tragedy. But, although you can then expect description of a man broken by heartache, you will want to keep reading. This is how Abbott is like McEwan. Their writing, alone, warrants the read.

But beautiful writing does not necessarily make a page turner. And this book is.

The second part of THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER begins before the tragedy occurred, when Henry Cage, a divorced man living alone, is retiring from a company he built. He had been forced out, and now he is lonely. Through frequent flashbacks, you will learn why this is so.

Then Henry is a retired man taking a long walk home from a friend’s new year’s eve celebration. The crowds on the streets are great, and he is accidentally shoved into man with a violent history. The man learns who Henry is and where he lives and subsequently stalks Henry, vandalizing his home on several occasions.

During this time Henry learns that his ex-wife, who he threw out because his pride was hurt, who still loves him, will die soon of incurable cancer. And the way he learns this is part of the story, too: Henry received a letter from his son, who he also had not seen or heard from since the divorce, who he had rejected long before the son rejected Henry. And while he is later on his way to see his son, he discovers that he also has a grandchild.

Henry made his bed but now is not the same Henry and doesn’t want to sleep in it. I didn’t want him to, either; I rooted for Henry.

Pay attention to the quotation that precedes the story: "The consequences of our actions take hold of us, quite indifferent to our claim that meanwhile we have improved." This is Henry’s problem.

I have a short list of authors whose books I’m sure will be good enough to preorder even before they’re published. David Abbot has been added to my list. I hear he’s writing another, and I’ll preorder it as soon as possible. But “as soon as possible” may be when amazon.uk has it because I might not be able to wait until it is available in the United States.